Campaign finance reports start rolling in

Candidates began filing campaign finance reports today -- the first disclosures since March 10. Much, of course, has happened in the interim.

It's the first report for several major candidates, starting with mayoral candidate Vincent Gray (D). As of 6 p.m., he had not completed his filing -- he has until midnight -- but expect only a fraction of the nearly $4 million that incumbent Adrian M. Fenty already has raised.

It's also the first filing for Democratic D.C. Council chairman candidates Kwame Brown and Vincent Orange.

Brown filed his report early, posting a number just shy of $180,000 from 201 donors. The chairman of the council's economic development committee tapped a long list of real estate and construction industry sources, including $1,500 from developer Herb Miller and $1,000 total from baseball owners Ted and Mark Lerner. Brown's take also includes $1,500 from Rep. Jim Clyburn (D-S.C.) and at least $1,000 from megadeveloper and potential mayoral candidate, R. Donahue Peebles, as noted by the Washington Business Journal.

Orange's filing is expected to show contributions totaling upward of $135,000, according to a campaign source -- showing that Orange, who hasn't held public office since he gave up his Ward 5 council seat for a failed 2006 mayor run, still has some juice.

But thus far the champion fundraiser is David Catania (I), who is seeking a fourth full term as an at-large Council member. He added more than $200,000 to his coffers, bringing his total war chest to more than $300,000. In the ward-specific races, Jim Graham (D-Ward 1) has outraised his fellow incumbents, bringing his bank account to more than $210,000.

According to a Clark Ray press release this morning, Mendelson had $28,000. Go Clark Ray! And may Mendelson end up living in a bad part of town, amidst thugs who give him daily lessons on the role of public safety and the judiciary.